Corn-husking machine.



No. 773,664. PATENTED NOV. 1, 1904.

H. E. MOORE.

CORN HUSKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 001. 5. 1903.

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No. 773,664. v PATENTED NOV. 1, 1904. H. E. MOORE. CORN HUSKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT 5. 1908.

NO MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES INUENTUB.

No. 773,664. PATENTE'D NOV. 1, 1904.. H H. E. MOORE. I

001m HUSKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION TILED OCT, 5, 1903.-

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UNTTED STATES Patented November 1, 1904.

HARVEY E. MOORE, OF EUREKA, ILLINOIS.

CORN-HUSKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 773,664, dated November1, 1904.

Application filed October 5, 1903. Serial No. 175,725. "No morel.)

T0 (Li/Z whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARVEY E. Moons, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Eureka, in the county ofVVoodford and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Oorn-Husking Machines; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same. 7 This invention pertains to a machine forhusking corn, being more particularly adapted for husking green cornv incanning factories, but can be employed also for husking ordinary fieldcorn whether green or dry.

The object of my invention is to provide mechanism to which the ears ofcorn may be fed and which will eject the ear perfectly free from anyhusk particles or silk.

To my knowledge no machine has been heretofore produced to husk corn inthe green state for use in canneries, and the method by which this workhas been accomplished has been entirely by hand. Furthermore, it hasbeen usual in husking corn in its dry state to snap off the stems. Bythis means' the husk usually comes away with the stem, and the work isdone as near correct as it is necessary for it to be. However, inhusking green corn for canning purposes it is well known that the earmust be perfectly clean and free from all objectionable matter. It istherefore my intention to reverse the usual husking process in order tobetter accomplish the thorough cleaning of the ear, since it is at onceevident that green corn cannot be husked in the same manner as dry corn.In treating the latter it is customary to feed the ears bu tt-end orstem end into rollers which pinch off the stem and husk and allow thefreed ear to pass to the receptacle designed for receiving it; but in mymachine the stem and butt ends of the husks are cleanly cut from theear, after which the pointed or silk end of the ear is fed to thestripping-rollers, where the husks are drawn from it, all of which willappear in the specification following. I am aware, however, thatremoving the butt from ears of dry corn and likewise the removal of thedried husks afterward; but in so far as I am apprised there are noneused for husking green corn by drawing the husks over the point of theear either in dry or green state. I am aware also that a saw has beenemployed in severing the buttends; but I attach no claim to thisparticular portion alone in the practice of husking green corn. Thegreen corn could not be handled in the old way above mentioned, since itwould not be parted from the stem without injury to the soft corn, andindeed it is doubtful whether such a method would be successful at all.

In the appended drawings, Figure l is a plan view of my improvedcorn-husking machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with partsbroken away to show construction and arrangement. Fig. 3 is an end Viewof the machine in section, being taken on line X X, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is aside elevation of a hopper and certain cleaning-rolls to be described.Fig. 5 is a view in detail of .a receivinghopper and drag, the samebeing viewed from the end of the hopper. Fig. 6 is a similar view of thesame portions, showing altered position of the bottom members of thehopper. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of two cleaningrollers, showing aprick-wheel for assisting in removing husk portions. Fig. 8 is aperspective view of a portion of the periphery of a recessed 'wheelwhich receives and carries the ears to be husked. Fig. 9 is aperspective view of the hopper shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the rollers shownin Fig. 7, and also showing a transverse belt for said rollers. Fig. 10is a perspective view of an ear of corn, showing the separation of thestem and bu tt-ends of the husks.

In the drawings, A indicates the framing of the machine, at one end ofwhich is mounted a wheel B, having a series of recesses O in itsperiphery, as shown inFigs. 3 and 8. As shown in the latter figu re, thesaid recesses O are shaped to receive the ears of corn. A saw-kerfextends entirely around the face of the wheel and divides the recessesinto two sections. The ear is so placed in the resting there are severalmachines which do service in 1 place therefor that its stem lies abovethe sawcut, and when severed by the saw, to be described, it appears, asin Fig. 10, with the stem and the butt-end of the husk removed. Acircular saw D is mounted in hearings in the top of the arm E, securedon the frame A, as shown, and lies within the cut or kerf F, which hasbeen described, and it will be understood that a revolution of the wheelB will carry the kerf entirely around beneath the saw. It will furtherbe seen that a fast revolution of the saw will serve to sever the stemsof the ears, so that they will all be ready for further operations.

An endless belt G- travels with the wheel B and covers about one-quarterof its periphery, as shown in Fig. 3. This belt is carried on threerollers, one of which is indicated by H and which lies forward of thesaw. A second one, I, is positioned back of the wheel B and below itscenter, while the third one, J, is located between the two justdescribed, but considerably above, so that the said belt in passing fromH to I follows the periphery of the wheel and then passes up over rollerJ and thence to H in its endless movement, the latter roller serving tokeep the two runs of the belt separated. The purpose of the said belt isto clamp the ears of corn into the recesses C while they are being cutby the saw and also to finally help in the delivery of the ears to areceptacle for further operations. The rollers above described aresuitably carried in arms secured to the frame of the machine and willrequire no further mention.

Power is supplied to the wheel B through a chain K and sprocket-wheel L,while a belt M and pulley N serve to drive the saw D. Sufficientfriction exists between the wheel and the belt G to carry the latterover its rollers.

A hopper O is located below and behind the wheel B, as in Fig. 3, andwithin this is pivoted a valve designed to swing alternately back andforth by the entrance of the ears of corn dropped thereupon by the wheelB.

Beneath the hopper and running the full length of the machine at rightangles to the belt G is a canvas carrier Q, the same being carried bymeans of rollers R S, mounted in any good manner in hearings on theframe A. This carrier travels between side boards T, forming part of themachine-frame, while above the carrier, at the middle thereof, is apartition U, dividing the said carrier into two equal portions. Across-piece V, resting on and secured to the sides T, supports thecentral partition U and also carries, by means of pivots, two switchesW, while in line with each said pivots is a short partition 2, which,together with the central one, U, serve to divide the width of thecarrier Q into four substantially equal divisions at the delivery end.The hopper O and its valve serve to place the ears in proper positionfor meeting the huskingstood that other means may be employed foraccomplishing the same result. The carrier Q, and the switches W servealso in assisting to carry the ears in the proper manner to saidrollers. The roller S, carrying the said delivery end of the carrier, iscarried by ashaft 3, on which is a beveled gear 4, which receives motionfrom a similar gear 5, carried on a shaft 6, having bearings 7 at theside of the machine. A sprocket-wheel 8 on said shaft is driven by meansof a sprocket-chain 9 from a wheel 10 on the shaft of the wheel B, asshown.

Opposite the delivery end of the carrier Q is a pair of rollers 11,adapted to run together, so that, as shown in Fig. 2, the pointed end ofthe hush of an car will be drawn in between them. Suitable bearings, butone of which is shown at 12 in Figs. 1 and 2, serve to support therollers in proper relation to one another. The shaft 13 of the upperroller carries a pulley by which said roller is driven in the properdirection from a pulley 1 1 on the shaft 3 of the roller S. A gear-wheel15 on the roller last referred to meshes with a simi lar gear 16 on thelower roller, and by this means the said lower one is driven positivelyand in the proper direction. A chute 17 is provided adjacent to therollers 11 and serves to carry away the husks; but this will be morefully brought out later.

Situated below and between the roller S and the rollers 11 is a hopperconsisting of the inclined sides 18, supported in suitable manner.Hinged to the sides are bottom flaps 19, as shown, to the under sides ofwhich are secured metal guides 20, by which the said bottom flaps aremade to open and close, as will appear presently. Beneath the hopper isa carrier consisting of two sprocket chains 21, which carry a series ofcross-slats 22. Said chains are driven by means of sprocket-wheels 23,carried on shafts 24, mounted in bearings 25, as shown inFig. 1. Saidcarrier is located at right angles to the carrier Q and runs parallelwith the rollers 11 and serves to drag away the ears of corn as theyleave the hopper last described. Within the carrier thus constructed isa pair of rollers 26, extending the entire length of the said carrier,as shown in Fig. 1, said rollers being carried by horizontal bars 27,extending from between the upper and lower runs of the sprocket-chains21 and secured to the frame A in substantially the manner shown in Fig.7. On account of the great length of the rollers they are grooved atintervals and supported by the bars 27. One of these rollers is drivenby means of a sprocket-wheel 28 on its shaft, said wheel being turned bymeans of a sprocketchain 29, running on a sprocket-wheel 30 on shaft 3,thence down over idler-wheels 31 and 32, the latter two being providedin order to carry the chain to the wheel 28 withrollers, to bedescribed; but it is to be underi out interference from thecarrier-chains 21.

The opposite ends of the rollers are provided with gear-wheels, whichmeshing together serve to impart motion to each other in oppositedirections. Above and running across ,the rollers 26 is a belt 33,carried on rollers 34, having bearings in'cross-bars 35, bolted to theframe A. One of these rollers is driven by means of a pulley 36 thereonand a belt 37 on a pulley 38 on the shaft 3. The opposite end of thesaid roller carries a sprocketwheel 39, over which runs a chain &0 to asimilar wheel 41 on the opposite roller. It will be seen that motionimparted to the first roller from the said shaft 3 will transmitpositive motion to the opposite roller through the sprocket wheels andchain, and consequently cause the belt 33 to be driven.

The slats 22 on the chains 21 serve to carry the ears of corn along therollers 26 and finally deposit them into a chute 4E2, which may lead toan elevator or other device by which the said ears are transported tothe machine, which removes the corn from the cob for canning.

The ears being fed at the front of the wheel, or at the right as viewedin Fig. 3, are carried upward toward and beneath the saw. The ears liewithin the recesses, as shown in Fig. 8, with the stem bridging thesaw-cut. In passing under the saw all of the ears are cut through, asshown in Fig. 10, the stem and the butt-ends of the husk being separatedfrom the car without injuring the kernels or losing any of the milk. Thebelt G serves to firmly hold the ears in place while being cut and alsokeeps them within the recesses until they reach the vicinity of thehopper 0. Here they leave the wheel and belt and drop into said hopperupon the valve P. When the said valve is in the position shown in Fig.3, the earin falling upon it rolls down to the carrier Q to the left ofthe central partition U. Said carrier in moving toward the right asviewed in Fig. 1 now carries the ear toward and through the switch WVand as it reaches said switch is compelled to push against the headthereof, pushing said head aside and causing it to assume the positionshown in broken lines, the ear passing onward through the passage a,reaching the rollers 11 point first. Returning to Fig. 3, it will beseen that as the ear just described passes through the valve P it throwssaid valve to the brokenline position, so that the ear following willthen be dropped to the right of the partition U, and in reaching thatpoint returns the switch to the initial position. The ear then movesforward to the switch, which in the position shown in Fig. 1 sends itthrough the channel Z), at the same time throwing the switch to thedotted-line position. The following ears in meeting the switches returnthem to the first position from which they are shifted by the earscoming later, as will be understood. By this arrangement of the switchesand the valve P the full width of the carrier Q is utilized, the objectbeing to carry the ears first through one channel and then throughanother, so that the rollers 11 will not be crowded at any one place,but will have work to do throughout their entire length. The switchesbeing pivoted as shown and described must pass every other ear to aparticular channel, and in this way such ears cannot be fed in a bunchto the rollers and cause congestion. Now on reaching the rollers thepoint of the ear must of necessity reach and enter between them, sincethe carrier Q is at such an elevation that the point of the ear is inline with the rollers where they contact, as shown in Fig. 2. Since thestem and part of the husk is removed by the saw, it follows that thehusk being thus released at its rear end can be easily drawn over theear, so that when the point of the husk enters between the rollers saidhusk is immediately drawn off, the ear being prevented from entering byreason of its size and its ability to resist squeezing and being nowliberated from its husk falls upon the hinged bottom of the hopperbeneath. It is designed that when the ear falls into the hopper thebottom shall be closed, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4C. This resultsfrom the presence of a slat 22 beneath the guides 20 of the flaps 19.The slats are intended to be of such a distance apart that the guidesmay fall between them and drop the ear upon the rollers 26. Then afterthe ear is dropped the next slat in passing up and around thesprocket-wheel 23 contacts with the guides and raises them and theflaps. Then the next ear is received, and so on. The ear on reaching therollers 26, which revolve toward one another, is now stripped of anystray portionof the husk or silk that may adhere to it and which has notbeen drawn off by the rollers 11. The constantly-moving slats 22 carrythe ear along the rollers beneath the transversely-moving belt 33, andthis belt causes the ear to revolve, so that there can be no possibilityof any portion of the ear escaping contact of the rollers. The belt isde-' signed to travel as close to the rollers as possible withoutinterfering with the slats 22 passing beneath, so that as much pressurecan be put upon the ear as possible to compel it to revolve. 7

To the end of the hopper is hung a flap c, the end of which extendsbeneath the belt and serves to guide the ears and the slats under itwithout catching. In one of the rollers 26, Fig. 7, is a prick-wheel (Z,which extends sufficiently above the periphery of the roller to contactwith the ear of corn, but which does not interfere with the belt 33. Ifany thin husk portion adhere closely to the ear that the rollers alonecannot remove. the wheel will catch it and drag it loose, so that itwill at once be caught by the rollers and pulled off.

In place of the saw for removing the stems of the ears a revolving knifemay be employed, and, in fact, any other form of device may be used thatWill accomplish the desired end. Other changes of one kind or anothermay be made in the machine Without sacrificing any portion of myinvention.

The hopper O need not be used necessarily, since the ears may be droppedfrom the Wheel B immediately upon the carrier Q; but some means forproperly directing the ears to the husking-rollers must be provided,Whether in one form or another.

1 claim 1. A husking-machine for green corn comprising a holding memberfor the unhusked ears, a saw for removing the butts of the ears andhusks for liberating the latter, huskingrollers adapted to receive theears point first for grasping the points of the liberated husks, thesaid rollers adapted to carry the husks through them to the exclusion ofthe ear, a

- carrier adapted for placing the ears at right angles to thehusking-rollers and feeding the same to such rollers point first for thepurposes described, and means for removing unremoved particles of huskand silk from the ears after passing beyond the husking-rollers.

2. A machine for husking green corn comprising a member for holding theears of corn, a circular saW adjacent thereto for cutting off the buttsof the ears and husks, primary husking-rollers to Which the ears are fedpoint first for the purposes set forth, means for delivering the earspoint first to the said huskingrollers, a second set of rollers beneaththe husking-rollers for receiving the ears after being husked, saidunder rollers adapted to remove portions of silk and husk not removed bythe primary husking-rollers substantially as set forth.

3. A machine for husking green corn comprising a carrier for receivingand holding the ears of corn, a saw for severing the butts of the earsand husks, husking-rollers for receiving the ears point first forgrasping the points of the husks and drawing them endwise off the earthrough the rollers, a carrier for conveying the ears from the firstcarrier to the rollers, means for arranging the ears at right angles tothe said husking-rollers and guiding them thereto, and a series ofrollers beneath the husking-rollers for receiving the ears and removingthe unremoved silk and husk portions as set forth.

4. A corn-husking machine of the character described comprising acarrier for the unhusked corn, a saW for removing the butts of the earsand husks, husking-rollers for removing the husks over the points of theears, a carrier for conveying the ears point end first to thehusking-rollers, said rollers adapted to carry the husks therethroughleaving the ear, rollers beneath the husking-rollers for receiving thehusked ears and removing the portions of husk and silk still adhering,and a transversely-movingcarrier above the latter rollers and adapted toturn the ear upon said rollers holding the same thereon for the purposesset forth.

5. The combination of a frame, with a carrier for unhusked ears of cornmounted thereon, means for severing the stems from the cobs of the ears,husking-rollers, a conveyer extending from the carrier to a point nearthe husking-rolls, and means on the frame above the conveyer for placingthe ears on the conveyer at right angles With the rolls.

6. The combination of a frame, With a carrier mounted thereon, means forsevering the stem from the cobs of the ears, bushing-rollers, a conveyerextending from the carrier to a point near the husking-rolls and meanson the frame above the conveyer for receiving the ears and conductingthem to the conveyer and for placing the ears on said conveyer at rightangles to the husking-rolls, said conveyer carrying the ears so arrangedto the rolls pointed end first for the purposes set forth.

7. The combination of a frame, With a carrier for unhusked ears mountedthereon, means for removing the stems from the cobs of the ears,basking-rollers for receiving and grasping the points of the husks ofthe ears, and removing such husks from the ears over the points thereof,a conveyer for receiving the unhusked ears after removal of the stems,said conveyer extending from the carrier to the husking-rolls, and meansabove the conveyer for receiving and arranging the ears on the conveyerat right angles to the bushingrolls.

8. In a corn-husking machine, a revoluble member having a series ofrecesses for receiving the ears of corn, a cutter adjacent thereto andengaging therewith substantially as set forth and adapted to sever thestems of the ears, a carrier adjacent to the revoluble member forholding the ears of corn in place in the said recesses, rollers forremoving the husks over the ends of the ears as described, a carrier forconveying the ears from the revoluble member, after being released, tothe said rollers, a distributing-hopper between the said revolublemember and the said carrier for receiving the ears from the former anddelivering them to the latter, a'hopper beneath the husking-rollers forcatching the ears from the said rollers, rollers beneath the hopper forreceiving the ears for cleaning them of any portions not alreadyremoved, and means for revolving the ears upon the latter rollers toinsure such cleaning.

9. In a corn-husking machine the combination of an endless recessedmember for receiving and retaining the ears of corn, a cutter stationedadjacent to such member for severing the stems of the ears of corncarried thereto by said member, means for holding the ears upon saidmember and assisting in delivering the same, a hopper beneath the memberinto Which the ears are delivered, a carrier beneath the hopper forcarrying away the ears after being cut, rollers to which the ears arefed point first by said carrier, said rollers adapted for stripping thehusk from the ear over the pointed end thereof, a hopper for receivingthe husked corn, rollers beneath the hopper for cleaning the ear ofremaining husk portions, a carrier for pushing the ears along saidrollers, and a transverse belt above the rollers for assisting inrevolving the ear for the purposes described.

10. In a corn-husking machine a revoluble member having a series ofrecesses in its periphery for receiving and retaining ears of corn, arotary cutter having bearings adjacent to said member said cutterrotating in close proximity to the member and adapted for severing thestems of the ears of corn, a belt ad-' jacent to and moving with andagainst the member for holding the corn in place while being severed, ahopper beneath the belt and revoluble member for receiving the cut ears,a valve within the hopper for distributing the ears for the purposesindicated, a carrier for conveying the ears away from the hopper'andvalve, rollers for receiving the pointed ends of the husks of the earsfrom the said carrier,

I said rollers adapted to draw the husks from the ears over the pointedends thereof, a receiving-hopper beneath the rollers for the receptionof the husked ears, rollers beneath the hopper upon which the ears arecarried along for cleaning ofl the silk and husk portions not alreadyremoved by the primary rollers, and means for pushing the ears along thecleaning or secondary rollers for the purposes indicated.

11. In a corn-husking machine a revoluble member having a series ofrecesses in its periphery for the reception of ears of unhusked greencorn, a rotary cutter adjacent to said member, a recess in the peripheryof the revoluble member and extending entirely around it crosswise ofthe said recesses-for holding the corn, said cutter revolving withinsuch peripheral recess for the purposes described, means for retainingthe ears in their recesses while being cut, a distributing-hopperbeneath the revoluble member that contains the corn, a carrier beneathsuch hopper for receiving the corn therefrom, rollers at the deliveryend of the carrier for receiving the ears point first from that membersubstantially as set forth and for the purposes described, a hopperbeneath the rollers for of said member, a rotary cutter adjacent to saidmember, a recess extending around the periphery of the member anddividing the first said recesses into two portions forthe purposesdescribed, said cutter adapted to revolve within such peripheral recess,a belt adjacent to and traveling with the revoluble member for thepurposes indicated, a distributing-hopper beneath the member forreceiving ears of corn therefrom, a carrier beneath the hopper, a pairof husk-stripping rollers for receiving the ears of corn point firstfrom the said carrier, a pair of rollers beneath the first for receivingthe ears and means in conjunction with the said secondary rollers forremoving adhering silk or husk portions from the ear.

13. In a corn-husking machine the revoluble member B having a series ofparallel recesses C in its periphery substantially parallel with theaXis of the member, there being a peripheral groove in the said memberat right angles to the recesses C and dividing the latter into twoportions, a cutter D adjacent to the member and seated in saidperipheral groove to sever ears of corn lying in the recesses (J, beltGrfor holding ears in place while being severed, the hopper O beneath themember B for catching the ears, the valveP therein for distributing theears as set forth, the carrier Q, beneath the hopper, the rollers 11 forreceiving the ears point first for removing the husks over the point ofthe ear, the said ears being fed thereto by means of the said carrier,rollers 26 beneath the rollers 11 for receiving the husked ears, theprick-wheel (Z thereon for catching the tightly-adhering husk portions,and the transverse belt 33 running over the rollers 26 for causing theears to turn upon the rollers all for the purposes set forth.

In. testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of Witnesses.

HARVEY E. MOORE.

